Clinical Advisory Committee on Lyme Disease (CACLD)

The Australian Government is monitoring Lyme disease, in consultation with the states and territories, through the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.

Page last updated: 18 August 2014

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, convened a Clinical Advisory Committee on Lyme Disease (CACLD) to provide him with advice on the evidence for Lyme disease in Australia, diagnostic testing, treatment and research requirements. The Committee met five times and the outcomes of these meetings are provided below. The CACLD has now been dissolved and the last meeting was held on 15 July 2014.

Terms of Reference

The purpose of the CACLD is to provide advice to the Chief Medical Officer on:

the extent to which there is evidence of Borrelia spp causing illness in humans in Australia

the most appropriate laboratory diagnostic testing algorithms (best world practice) for persons who have suspected borreliosis in Australia

the most appropriate treatments for borreliosis in Australia

the most appropriate ways to disseminate information to health professionals and the general public on borreliosis/Lyme disease

the requirements for further research into borreliosis in Australia, and

the generation of appropriate new questions relevant to the terms of reference.

The progress against each of the Committee’s terms of reference can be accessed on the Lyme Disease web page.

Membership

The committee has representation from the following organisations:

Australian Government Department of Health

Karl McManus Foundation

Lyme Disease Association of Australia

Public Health Laboratory Network

Communicable Diseases Network Australia

NSW Health

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

National Health and Medical Research Council

Australian Society for Infectious Diseases

An Australian and International Expert

Meeting Outcomes

Meeting 1

The Committee met on 19 March 2013 with the following outcomes:

Suggested terms of reference for the Clinical Advisory Committee on Lyme disease to be re-drafted to incorporate members’ comments.

A Lyme disease patient advocate to be invited to participate on the CACLD.

More information regarding borreliosis in Australia is required in order to understand the requirements to resolve issues detailed in the committee’s terms of reference. Each member of the committee will be contacted out of session to discuss issues arising about borreliosis in Australia, which will assist the development of a discussion paper on Lyme borreliosis.

Research requirements for borreliosis in Australia to be addressed at the next CACLD meeting.

Meeting 2

The Committee met on 28 May 2013 with the following outcomes:

Terms of Reference to be re-drafted to incorporate members' comments (endorsed terms of reference above).

The Committee noted the outcomes of the committee consultations (outcome 3 from previous meeting) on:

the existence of Lyme disease in Australia

the members' perspective on the diagnostic pathway for Lyme disease in Australia

the members' perspective on treatment options for Lyme disease in Australia.

Meeting 3

The Committee met on 3 September 2013 with the following outcomes:

Members were provided with an update on the progress of the scoping study being conducted to identify the research needs for an investigation into whether a causative tick-borne microorganism for Lyme disease exists in Australia.

Members received an update on current research being conducted on ticks at the Murdoch University and potential collaborations and assistance was discussed.

Members discussed a diagnostic pathway in the context of recent publications comparing North American and European testing approaches. Members agreed to continue this discussion out of session.

Meeting 4

The Committee met on 27 November 2013 with the following outcomes:

The scoping study for research to identify and characterise an indigenous causative microorganism for Lyme-like disease in Australia and its vector to be placed on the Department of Health’s website and comments to be invited. The study will also be provided to Chief Health Officers and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

A report on the first meeting of the Diagnostic Pathway Working Group was provided to members.

The Department of Health will investigate organising a Diagnostic Forum and a Clinical Round Table meeting in the first half of 2014.

Members acknowledged that the work of the CACLD will extend into 2014.

Meeting 5

The Committee met on 15 July 2014 with the following outcomes:

Members noted and discussed the summarised key recommendations provided in the submissions received on the Scoping Study around requirements for future research. Members also discussed the department’s response to the Scoping Study and suggested that the department’s response should be provided on the website.

Members discussed the outcomes from the Lyme Disease Treatment Round Table and had no further amendments to the suggested research projects that arose from the meeting.

Members discussed the progress achieved against each to the committee’s terms of reference and agreed that a progress report should be made available on the department’s website.

Members noted that while the CACLD has been dissolved, the work of the Department of Health on Lyme disease in Australia will continue.

Consultations

A summary of the committee consultations (outcome 3 from Meeting 1) titled CACLD Discussion Paper on Lyme Disease can be accessed below.